🎷 AotW: Horizon Brenda Russell - BRENDA RUSSELL (SP-739)

Horizon label releases.

How Would You Rate This Album?

  • ***** (Best)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • ****

    Votes: 2 40.0%
  • ***

    Votes: 3 60.0%
  • **

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • * (Worst)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
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  • Total voters
    5

Captain Bacardi

Well-Known Member
Brenda Russell
BRENDA RUSSELL

A&M/Horizon SP-739

sp739.jpg
sp739alt.jpg

Released 1979
Peaked at #65 on the Pop Album chart (1979)

Format: Vinyl/8-Track/Cassette/CD

Produced by Andre Fischer for Sweet Street Productions
Associate Producer: Brenda Dash

Songs:
  • 1. So Good, So Right - 3:20
    2. In The Thick Of It - 3:56
    3. If Only For One Night - 4:13
    4. Way Back When - 4:23
    5. A Little Bit Of Love - 4:41
    6. You're Free (Brenda Russell/Andre Fischer) - 3:30
    7. Think It Over (Brenda Russell/Brian Russell) - 5:17
    8. God Bless You - 4:48

    All selections composed by Brenda Russell except where indicated

Musicians:
Brenda Russell - Vocals, Piano
Ed Brown - Bass
Andre Fischer - Drums
George Sopuch - Guitar
Fred Tackett - Guitar
David Wolfert - Guitar
Ron Stockert - Keyboards
Ian Underwood - Synthesizer
Susaye Greene Brown - Trumpet, Background Vocals
Jerry Hey - Trumpet
Steve Madaio - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Judd Miller - Trumpet
Gary Herbig - Flute, Baritone Sax
Doug Richardson - Tenor Sax
Tom Saviano - Soprano Sax
Larry Williams - Flute, Tenor Sax
Hector Andrade - Timbales
David McKelvy - Harmonica
Gerald Vinci - Concertmaster
Harry Bluestone - Concertmaster
Background Vocals: Michelle Aller, Kathy Collier, Venette Gloud, Elaine Hill, Carmen Twillie
Choir: Doublerock Baptist Junior Choir

Recorded by John Rhys
Mixed by Al Schmitt
Project Coordinators: Jeff Fura, Barry Korkin, Lynise Levine
Photography: Norman Seeff



Capt. Bacardi
 
Good assortment of musicians and a very creative foray, not as much into Jazz as leaning a bit more towards Contemporary R&B...

Seems as though Brenda's separation from Brian Russell also lost that more cheery, pop-oriented, discoesque "Brian & Brenda" slant... This is far more different on her own than what those two would usually do...

And a contrast to whom they worked with earlier as their back-up musicians and somewhat auteurish producers made them come on a bit overbearingly verbose and too over-supported and buried in exess rhythm... Here this album is done with a more streamlined production guiding Ms. Russell with a lot more finesse...

"So Good, So Right" and "Think It Over" are the overall best tracks here, though the entire outing seems very intimate and lively and inviting at the same time...



Dave
 
"So Good, So Right" is the only song I truly remember, although I did listen to the album a few times.

I've always been a Brenda Russell fan - had the pleasure of seeing her in concert late last year. "Paris Rain" - released a few years back - is an incredible album and well worth a listen.
 
This is a tasty little album, although it's clearly not a jazz album. It's more like one of those "quiet storm" types we hear about. I've always liked Brenda Russell. She has a distinctive voice and writes some pretty good songs. "So Good So Right" is a favorite of mine, as is "If Only For One Night". This album isn't one that will knock your socks off, but on the other hand it's great "make-out music". :wink: 3 stars.



Capt. Bacardi
 
The cover on the right is a very strange reissue - the entirety of this album with "Piano In The Dark" (from nine years later) tacked on at the end......
 
This album/cd is..is..is aCLASSIC!! Every(well most of the songs, anway)song is great, the arrangements are a combination of jazz, r&b,pop, Hollywood/Broadway styled orchestration. And this was in the late 70s, when disco was the rage! Brenda Russell proved that a beautiful female singer not just be a singing tool for the producer; she can be a creative force in the studio, and make great, compelling music that can last thru the years.

Rumor has it that President Obama LOVES this album, has loved it since he was a kid, and still plays it every now and then. Also, ex-"Angel", Cheryl Ladd covered "Think It Over", and lots of hip-hop/rappers have sampled cuts from the album over the years. True signs of a classic, don't you think? I CERTAINLY DO!!
jazzdre
 
Given what our local station played, I probably know a couple on this album. I haven't heard it yet, though.
 
The soft rock station I worked for was all over "Piano In The Dark". Our PD was a jazz aficionado, and this kind of record was right up his alley. The song peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Top 40 and was on the charts for 13 weeks.

Less successful was "So Good, So Right" which peaked at number 30 and stayed on the charts for 6 weeks.

It's interesting that the Whitburn book lists "Piano In The Dark" as being A&M 3003, while "So Good, So Right" is on Horizon 123.

Piano In The Dark official video:


Harry
 
I wonder if they popped that single over to A&M since it was receiving a lot of pop chart airplay. They may have figured it would not sell if it were on a jazz label. (Although I'm sure some PDs probably didn't care what label it was on.)

Heh, I keep thinking of another song when I see the title "So Good, So Right". I keep hearing "So Ruff, So Tuff" (by Roger Troutman, of Zapp fame). :laugh:
 
Given 3003 is a much later # than the single #s A&M was using when this album came out in the Horizon era, I'm guessing the A&M 3003 single is a later reissue tied in to the alternate cover (i.e.: the later re-release) featured on the right above. Not being into this kind of music at either time (and just now appreciating it) I have to ask, "what was going on with Ms. Russell so many year54s later that A&M re-issued this with a new cover (and quite possibly this 3003 version of the single)???
 
Would the #3003 single coincide with the era of Herb's WILD ROMANCE, on which Ms. Russell appeared as a vocalist?

Harry
 
The single "You Are The One" from Wild Romance is #2779, that featured Brenda. Looking at the BOF #3003 was released in 1988. The highest number in the 3000 series is 3023 by Robyn Hitchcock.
 
As far as this album goes, it's a very pleasant listen, but any actual jazz is virtually nil. I think Brenda Russell is a very underrated songwriter who deserves more recognition. I understand she's a very nice lady as well.
 
I just played the video above...man, it brings back a lot of memories of our local station WJZZ! They'd play stuff like this all the time...they'd even get in the occasional Teena Marie "Portuguese Love" and a couple of Randy Crawford songs like "Rio Di Janeiro Blue". Miss those days.

"So Good, So Right" also sounds familiar, but not quite as much. I recognize a couple of the hooks in it.

 
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